EUA 2018 Annual Conference on engaged and responsible universities

23 November 2017

EUA is pleased to announce the EUA Annual Conference on 5-6 April 2018 and hosted by the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

Universities, through their core missions of education, research, and innovation, are key drivers of knowledge societies. Europe is currently facing challenges including social and educational inequality, demographic changes and new migration patterns. The rise of populism means increasing distrust in scientific arguments while political conflicts risk threatening democracy and other shared European values. In this context, universities have a pivotal role to play in generating knowledge, developing intercultural understanding and fostering civic engagement through their core missions.

The conference will build upon EUA’s work with its members on various topics linked to the societal mission of universities. It will provide participants with an opportunity to explore how universities across Europe demonstrate their social responsibility by ensuring that their activities contribute to shaping society at large.

The event will include examples of institutional practices, national and European policies and initiatives. Breakout sessions will emphasise the societal impact of open science, lifelong learning and employability, smart specialisation strategies in research and innovation, and social inclusiveness in higher education. For more information about the programme and the overall event, please visit the conference website. The registration will open on 6 December 2017.